San Mamés Stadium

Overview

San Mamés is the home of Athletic Club de Bilbao, one of Spanish football's most historic clubs. Known as 'La Catedral' (The Cathedral), the current stadium was rebuilt in 2013 with a luminous ETFE and steel façade that glows at night in Athletic's red and white.

Highlights

• Stadium Tour: Behind-the-scenes access to the pitch, changing rooms, VIP boxes, and museum.
• Athletic Club Museum: Tracing the club's unique policy of fielding only Basque-born or Basque-trained players since 1912.
• Match-Day Atmosphere: The passionate Bilbao crowd creates one of La Liga's most intense atmospheres.

History

Athletic Club was founded in 1898 by British workers and Basque students. The original San Mamés opened in 1913 on a different site. The current stadium, designed by ACXT Architects, opened on 16 September 2013 with a capacity of 53,289.

Visitor Tips

• Book match tickets well in advance — the stadium frequently sells out.
• Stadium tours run daily except on match days.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours (tour).